Erik’s mouth fell open. He held the tome up and looked at it. “Tatev said that this book came from a different world, and that it was written with a powerful magic. Was it written by dragons?”
The Immortal Mystic shook his head. “It was not written by dragons,” he said. “It was written by the dragon. Or, more appropriately, the father of the dragons.”
“Hyasintar Kulai,” Erik whispered. “I read about him at Valtuu Temple.”
The Immortal Mystic shook his head impatiently. “No, not him. Hyasintar Kulai is not the father of dragons. He is the presiding dragon over the Ancients, but that is not the same thing. The father of the dragons is known as the Aurorean. He is a dragon composed entirely of light that shifts and changes always. The Aurorean held the total sum of wisdom and knowledge known by any being in the universe. He is the one who wrote the Infinium. That is why its magic can drive morals to madness. Most do not have the strength of mind to withstand its power. It is best compared to a beetle that tries to understand fire by crawling into one. At best, he will be burned but a small amount. At worst, he will be consumed by a power far greater than himself.”
Erik nodded and then looked up to the bearded man. “If it was so dangerous, why did the father of dragons write it?”
The Immortal Mystic returned them both to the floor and then gently took the book from Erik’s hands. “He wrote it so that others might know the secrets of the universe. How it works, how it can be controlled, and how it can be saved.”
“You mean from the four horsemen?” Erik pressed.
The Immortal Mystic nodded. “Among other dangers,” he answered. “I will take this, and we will probe its knowledge. I must warn you, that even with our combined knowledge and power, it may take some time to tease out its treasures.”
Erik nodded his understanding. Then, he looked out to the dragons and a sudden realization hit him. “They are all dead, aren’t they?” he asked.
The Immortal Mystic nodded silently.
“Why are they all here?”
“Erik, I will tell you now the genius, and the truth of Nagar’s Blight.” The Immortal Mystic folded his arms and tears streamed down his cheeks. “The spell is so powerful that any dragon upon the Middle Kingdom is subjugated to its tyranny. Some dragons on far away continents have escaped its power, but even they are somewhat warped. They have become a feral and dangerous breed. Instead of helping the children of the gods, as we had promised to do, they are violent and subject to greed and jealousy. Worse than that, is the fact that Nagar’s Blight stretches its evil hands out to corrupt dragons even after death. It ensnares the very soul of a dragon, even if it is already free of its mortal shell. In this way, Tu’luh can command a host of dragons even in death.”
“Why?” Erik asked. “The spirits cannot harm people can they?”
The Immortal Mystic shook his head. “Not directly. But, by ensnaring them in death, he would deny them the ability to give dreams and help the mortals of this realm. He selfishly controls and hoards their collective knowledge and wisdom in order to discover secrets and remain ahead of his enemies. That is why he must be stopped, Erik. You see, his treachery and despotism does not end with death. With the spell he created, he will rule and conquer all who live, and all who are dead. This goes far beyond the dragons. With the help of a necromancer, he can resurrect other mortals and then capture their souls with Nagar’s Secret as well. Nothing will escape his rule. With such power, he may not only enslave the world, but he may actually hasten the destruction of the four horsemen.” The Immortal Mystic smiled and shook his head slowly. “Ironic, that in trying to save the world he may actually destroy it much more completely and quickly than if he had done nothing at all.”
Erik thought for a few moments and watched as the Immortal Mystic unfolded his arms carefully so as not to drop the book. The tall man then opened the cover. The blue light in the room intensified even more, sending actual tendrils out to flow into him as he scanned the first two pages. All of the dragons nearby stopped and watched him. Erik didn’t move or make a sound as he watched.
A green vapor rose up from the book and then formed into a thin, string-like column of light that waved and danced under the Immortal Mystic’s breath. The Immortal Mystic suddenly dropped to a knee and bowed his head.
He whispered something in a language that Erik could not understand. All of the dragons also dropped down reverently.
A spark emerged at the top of the string of light. A second string, this one of violet light, extended out. A third one soon appeared and glowed bright orange. Erik watched in wonder as four more limbs grew out from the spark. Each of the limbs was a brilliant color, and they shifted and danced in a slow, methodical rhythm.
Erik watched for several more moments, and then the Immortal Mystic unexpectedly closed the book.
The room shook terribly as every dragon in the chamber roared with their might. Erik fell to the ground and barely managed to balance upon all fours. When the roars ceased, the Immortal Mystic helped him to his feet.
Erik then looked to the Immortal Mystic and pointed at him. “You said ‘we’ when you spoke to me,” he said. “When you talked about promising to guard the mortals of this realm, you didn’t say ‘them’ or something else, you said ‘we’ like you were there.”
The Immortal Mystic turned and sighed. “I was among them when the promise was made,” he said. “Can you not see it, Erik?”
Erik reached up and pulled the Eyes of Dowr off his face. He wasn’t sure if it was the power in the room that aided him, or if he was finally progressing in his abilities. He could still see the other dragons around him. He looked deep into the Immortal Mystic’s eyes and saw in them a golden color that spoke of an unnatural depth and wisdom. It was then that he broke through the mental barrier that had remained with him. He saw the truth, not with his natural eyes, but with his heart. The man standing before him was no man at all. It was a dragon, and not just any dragon, but an Ancient.
Erik dropped down to one knee and bowed his head. “Hyasintar Kulai, the Father of the Ancients.”
The Immortal Mystic walked farther into the room. As he did so, a golden light grew around him and he transformed into a mighty dragon with golden scales. He stood proudly at the front of the chamber. He let out a blast of fire in a deep, rumbling roar. The other dragons answered with their own roars.
“I have kept my children safe here, in this palace, since I discovered Tu’luh the Red’s treachery. It is here that I have sought to discover all of the secrets of the universe. Chief among them was how to defeat the four horsemen.”
Erik dared not look directly into the dragon’s eyes. His body trembled slightly. His heart told him he was safe, but his body felt fully aware of its insignificance before the dragons.
“The four horsemen destroyed my home,” Hyasintar Kulai said. “When Icadion fashioned this world, I came to him with my family. We sought refuge from the four horsemen, and a place to live in peace. In return for allowing us to live upon Terramyr, we promised Icadion to guide his children. We would strive to give wisdom to the children of the gods so they might avoid the fate that doomed our home. It was Tu’luh, my own son, who betrayed me in the end. He was disheartened by the growing corruption in the world. After the War of the Gods, when the rainbow bridge was sealed off from Terramyr and the Gods ceased working with their children upon Terramyr, there was a rampant increase in corruption. After many eons, Tu’luh became convinced that the only way to save the world, was to enslave it. He would take freedom in order to secure the world’s future because he was too afraid to fight the good fight and let people have their choices. This was a path I forbad him to follow. He was exiled. For centuries there was no sign of him. Then, he found Nagar. You know the rest.”
“How do I stop Nagar’s spell? What is it about Nagar’s Secret that protects the book?”
“The blight will die when Nagar’s Secret is destroyed, but to do that, you must have the power that Allu
n Rha created. For only when you drop water on a flame will it submit. However, in doing so, the water will too be destroyed as it turns to steam. In the end, neither power will remain.”
“I understand,” Erik said. “I am willing to use the power to destroy them both.”
“Are you?” Hyasintar Kulai asked. “For Allun Rha was unable to do precisely that. He too fell victim to the promise of power. Tu’luh and Nagar created a power that would corrupt the souls of all living and enslave them to do their bidding. It would create mindless monsters that would serve only them. However, Allun Rha created something very similar, albeit on the opposite side of the spectrum. His magic would compel all living to become as angels, never choosing corruption. They would still be enslaved, though. Neither method leaves enough room for life as we know it. Whether a mindless monster or mindless angel, both are robbed of their individuality. They are bereft of the very soul that makes them unique.”
“I will not fail,” Erik said. “I will destroy both spells, and vanquish the knowledge that would threaten the realm.”
“But you are not the chosen champion,” Hyasintar Kulai said forcefully. “I have seen the visions myself. You are the son of a shadowfiend, born with a corrupt soul that will succumb to the lure of power. In the visions fate showed me, and the other dragons present today, you have ever been identified as one who would steal Nagar’s Secret as well as any powers you could before submerging our world in an endless night.”
“If it was power that I sought,” Erik began. “Then I would not have given you the Infinium.”
The golden dragon laughed and set the book on the floor. With a single talon he slid it across the glass to rest at Erik’s feet. “Go on,” he said. “Take it.”
“What good would it do to lose myself in madness?” Erik said. “I don’t seek power, I seek answers.” He pushed the tome back toward the dragon with his foot. “You said you will find the answers to the four horsemen. Just promise to tell me how I can help after you find the answer.”
“But what of the power of Allun Rha?” the dragon asked. “You saw the peace in the village before you came here.”
Erik shook his head. “I saw only slaves. I saw shells of people. I saw no lasting happiness.” Erik stood firm and held his hands relaxed at his side. “Give me the Exalted Test of Arophim,” he said. “Let me prove that I will not succumb to the allure of power.”
Hyasintar Kulai extended his other foreleg and when he lifted it there was a golden book sitting upon the glass floor. “This is the Illumination,” he said. “This is the power that Allun Rha created.”
“What about the test?” Erik asked.
“Pick up the book, and the test will begin. However, before you do so, let me warn you that this temple not only protects us all from the effects of Nagar’s Secret, it also guards against the Illumination. Should you succumb to its power, we will destroy you.”
Erik nodded. He looked down to the golden book and took in a deep breath. Doubts began to swirl in his mind. What if he failed? Then he thought back to Tatev and the others. No. He wasn’t going to fail. He could not let them down.
Erik stepped forward and bent down to take hold of the book. The binding was thick, yet soft leather. He opened the cover and felt an immense heat as a golden light poured out from the book. He began to read the words silently, sliding his right index finger along the page.
A strength flowed out into him. He hardly noticed the blue light extending out from the wall to wrap around his body, mixing with the golden light from the book. He didn’t notice the heat surrounding him, nor the change in air pressure. He continued to read the words until all at once a force leapt out from the page and slammed into his forehead. His skin held firm, but the sensations of thousands of needles pierced through into his mind. His whole body trembled and he cried out in agony. He closed his eyes, but the light around him was so bright that his eyelids offered no protection. It was as if he stood inches away from the sun. The heat and brightness were so intense that he fell backward to land on the floor. That was when the sharp sensations rippled like pulsing spikes through his veins to every part of his body.
He writhed on the ground in terrible pain for a long time. Sweat poured out from his skin. Blood coursed out from his nostrils. His toes and fingers felt fat and swollen, as though they would soon explode. His stomach twisted and turned and his heart felt as though a great vice had set upon it.
Then a singular pain stabbed him in the chest.
“Erik, let it go,” Hyasintar Kulai said. “You are not strong enough.”
“No!” Erik shouted back. “I can do this!”
“Why force it, Erik?” the dragon asked.
“They need me,” Erik said. “They’re counting on me. I…I have to help them.”
The pain in his chest grew hotter and Erik cried out in hellish agony. His tears dried upon his skin only a second after they fell from his eyes. The blood from his nose dried and cracked, breaking into reddish brown flakes and lifting away as a column of invisible fire began to ravage Erik’s body. He could smell his hair melting and burning. His lungs began to fail, drawing in only half-breaths every few seconds then expelling it quickly as the heat scarred the inside of his body. Then it was as if a giant boulder fell upon his stomach. His torso was flattened to the ground and he had neither breath nor strength left. His eyes shot wide open, bulging from their sockets.
“Let it go Erik!” Hyasintar Kulai roared. “Let it go!”
The weight was too much. Erik couldn’t respond. Still, he would not give up the fight. His mind refused to surrender. He passed out only to wake again with a terrible heat upon his face. His lips and mouth dried and cracked. He closed his eyes again, but the heat pried its way in. He could hear the dragons all shouting at him now to give up, but he would not heed their warnings.
Then it was over.
Erik rose to his feet. He wasn’t gasping. There was no pain. It was as if it had never happened at all. He looked back to Hyasintar Kulai and smiled. “Am I ready now?” he asked.
“You are dead,” the dragon replied. A single, golden talon pointed to the floor behind the young man. Erik turned around and to his horror saw the grotesque remains of his body. As he studied every wound, cut, crack, and mark he recalled with devastating clarity the pain each moment had brought him.
“But, I am the champion,” Erik said. “I am the champion.”
“I tried to tell you that you were not,” Hyasintar Kulai said sorrowfully.
“No, this is a trick. You are showing me an illusion,” Erik said.
The dragon slowly shook its head. “I am afraid not. The Exalted Test of Arophim destroyed your body.”
“But…” Erik stared down at the floor and dropped down to his knees. He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t.
“Tears are a part of a mortal body,” the dragon commented. “They serve no purpose to spirits.”
Erik shook his head. “But my friends,” he began. “They need my help.”
Hyasintar Kulai lowered his massive head and moved in close. “I am sorry, Erik, but this is the end of your story.”
Erik reached out to place a hand on the dragon in order to steady himself. His hand went through the golden scales and he felt nothing. It was then that Erik realized he was in fact dead. He was nothing more than a spirit.
“I am sorry,” Hyasintar Kulai said. “I had hoped to give you the power. Truly, I did.”
Erik shook his head and rose up to his feet. “No,” he said. “This isn’t over.”
“You can’t have the power now,” Hyasintar Kulai said. “You have no way of using the magic without a body.”
Erik shook his head and held up his slightly transparent hand. “I don’t need to use it,” he said. “You said I was not the one from your visions. So tell me who you did see. You and the other dragons may be trapped here by Nagar’s magic, but I am not. I am a human spirit. He cannot lay claim to me. Send me out to get the real Champion of Truth. Tell m
e who it is.”
Hyasintar Kulai raised his head and stared down at Erik for a moment. “Erik, I can help you with that, but it will be more painful than dying was.”
Erik stared confused. “But how? I can’t feel anything right now. You tell me where to go, and I will just go. It’s that simple.”
“No,” the dragon said. “Now that you have begun the Exalted Test of Arophim, you are bound to this palace. To leave the walls will most certainly destroy your very soul.”
“You mean I can die again?” Erik asked.
The dragon nodded slowly. “Only this time you will be destroyed altogether. There will be no remainder of you or your spirit. It will be as if you never existed at all.”
“But we are running out of time,” Erik said. “Let me try.”
“Perhaps we could send Jaleal,” the dragon spoke. “I can tell him what I know of the prophesied champion and the gnome can go and fetch him.”
Erik shook his head. “It would take months to reach anyone not inside the eastern wilds. I am faster as a spirit right?”
The dragon nodded. “You could be there in the space of a single thought, but you will not survive. I am sorry.”
“What about Tatev?” Erik asked. “Or Master Orres, or my father, they could go.”
Hyasintar Kulai shook his head. “I cannot summon them here. I have no connection to them. I was only able to grant rare visions to Marlin and others at Valtuu Temple because I created a magical connection before I fled to this palace for safety. You yourself saw how fragile that connection was. Tu’luh was able to sneak into the temple and usurp the order for his own bidding while I am a prisoner here. I cannot summon any of them.”
“What about Marlin then?” Erik asked. “Can’t you give him a vision with the real hero’s identity?”
The dragon shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. I have to send impressions, thoughts, and symbols. To send too much information directly to another being is dangerous. It can result in madness. If Marlin had died in the physical world, then perhaps I could summon him, but even then it wouldn’t help. A spirit must have a personal connection with the mortal it intends to visit. For instance, Tatev could come to you because he knew you, and he had something that would help you. The others that came all had a connection with you, even Tukai and the others that had opposed you in life.”
Return of the Dragon (The Dragon's Champion Book 6) Page 21
